10 Steps To Learn Jazz Improvisation the Authentic Way
Hi Trumpet Player,
First I'd like to say Happy Holidays! I truly hope you're doing well today.
This email is about learning how to improvise since in the last few weeks I have received an increased amount of request to teach improvisation.
Because of these requests, I'm working on a curriculum that I'll likely be presenting to you in early 2023 and I promise that it won't be a theory class.
But until then, I want to leave you with some tips that will help you on your way.
If you follow these tips and we never spoke again on the subject, you would have a solid foundation on improvisation.
10 Steps to a Solid Foundation in Improvisation
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Listen to a lot of jazz music
The natural place to begin is with music that you are attracted to. You're attracted to it for a reason and that's because it literally resonates with you.
This will likely be the beginnings of your own personal improvisation style.
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Become familiar with the History of the Music
The best way I have learned to do this is through learning about the musicians.
Begin with the musicians and the album you listened to from step 1 and work your way backward from there.
For example, when I was young(er) 😊 I listened to a lot of Dizzy Gillespie and really grew to love the alto player along side him so I checked the liner notes and discovered that sax player was Sonny Stitt.
I hadn't heard of him before so I got up and walked 30 minutes to the local record store and purchased one or two of his albums.
When I got home and played the first recording, I immediately learned that Sonny Stitt also played tenor saxophone and I continued down that rabbit hole.
Start with what you like. Work backward from there and don't stop.
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There needs to be a whole lot of singing going on
Maybe you heard this before.
There are two types of listening. Active listening and passive listening.
Both are important but if you want to become a better improviser then there needs to be a whole lot of active listening going on.
One part of active listening includes singing along to the recording. I'd need to show you how to do this the authentic way in a live workshop and isn't best suited for a blog post.
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Learn harmony on the piano
Don't freak out about this step. There's no need for you to become Art Tatum. You'll just need to play through the song slowly.
Doing this will teach you form and harmony at the same time.
What song will you learn?
Start with your favorite song or the song the resonated with you from step 1.
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Transcribe
Here's the cliff notes on how to transcribe.
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Listen to what you want to learn.
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Sing what you just listened to.
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Play what you just sang.
That's it. It's that simple.
Listen. Sing. Play.
In that order.
DON'T TAKE SHORT CUTS.
The short cut that everyone takes is to skip the singing part.
This work is so tedious that people take shortcuts or outright quit. But this is the authentic way to learn how to improvise and the fastest way to reach your goals.
If you find yourself not able to remember what comes next in the solo/song then simply listen to it over and again until you don't struggle to remember.
When you follow this process the way it's supposed to be followed, then you'll spend 95% of your practice time listening and singing.
Playing the trumpet is absolutely thee final step.
One more thing . . . .
Don't write anything down on paper. Absolutely nothing.
Writing on paper does have benefits.
It is good for keeping a record of your work or for learning how to read music better but it doesn't really have a place in learning how to improvise authentically.
This is the other great mistake that people make all too often. They believe that writing will speed up the process but it only slows you down and you'll be in public still not sounding authentic.
I've made this mistake myself and have seen it in countless students which is why I feel it very important to warn you.
Please trust me on this. Don't try to shortcut the process.
The process is the process. Sit with it.
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Get out and listen to live music
It's necessary to get out and listen to live music so that you may learn what is possible on your instrument.
You need to get in the room and feel the vibration of sound created by a pro group.
This will inspire you to practice and to go deeper in your studies.
Another thing I strongly recommend is to go to a black baptist church for a time, if you're really serious.
Hear me out.
Jazz improvisation is Black American Music. Jazz music is rooted in work songs and spiritual songs.
Today, in the 21st century, you may have an authentic musical experience in the black baptist church.
They mainly keep certain traditions alive . . . things like call and response, songs based in the blues form, and certain preachers have a melodic grit in their presentation of the sermon and it's all authentic for the most part.
All of this directly translates to playing improvisation authentically.
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Write Music
So far, I haven't told you to take a deep dive into jazz harmony if you want to learn how to improvise.
While that does have its place, I strongly disagree with starting there.
That's why step 7 is to write music.
At this point you can get out the pencil and staff paper.
I mean, up til now, you've been listening and singing and playing your primary instrument and playing the piano.
This process will cause you to consider melody and harmony in a healthy way and if you have followed the previous steps to this point then you may notice that certain things you studied are beginning to come out naturally.
Way to go!
Roll with it.
The process is working.
The other piece of advise I have for you (if you're a serious student that wants be a professional) is to be a prolific writer of music.
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Record yourself
When I say record yourself I mean this in every way imaginable.
Record personal practice. Record band rehearsals. Record your performances.
Then listen back to them all.
Take notice of your mistakes or the things that you would like to improve and practice to make those things better.
If you have done a lot of listening then you'll notice that you mainly don't sound like the classic recordings yet.
That's expected.
But, don't you dare for a second believe that you can't achieve those same great sounds because you actually can.
No, you're not going to sound exactly like Freddie Hubbard because that sound is his spirit (which is one of a kind) but you can capture everything else.
It only takes patience.
Are you in a hurry?
If you are then slow down. Yes, even if you're 60+ years old and you think you're running out of time.
We are all running out of time.
Which leads me to the next point.
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Get out of your head
Every person on the planet has to deal with self-doubt.
Just don't believe the lies that you may tell yourself and please don't compare yourself to anyone else.
Improvisation is a process of self-discovery.
When you play an improvised solo, you're simply sharing where you are in your journey with the listener.
Who can truly judge that?
No one. That's who.
If you end up being unhappy with what you sound like for any reason then simply get back to work with the steps listed above.
There is no shame in that.
It's actually expected and part of the process.
There are some people that are overly critical of others but their opinions don't actually mean anything so don't pay attention to their criticism.
I've discovered that the majority of people that do great things, worth paying attention to, are very encouraging and supportive people.
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Be a generous person
Being a generous person changes you from the inside out and this is a spiritual process.
As you change inside, the sound that comes out of your bell also changes.
If you desire to become a better improviser then commit to evolving as a person.
Conclusion
All of these steps collectively will cause you to become a great improviser of music.
The reason that this works is because if you follow this process then you would have internalized the music.
Again, working from the inside out.
When you do this then there comes a point where you are music with every breath that you make and every step that you take.
It's authentic.
So you'll never have to worry about playing an "acceptable solo."
Acceptable to whom?
If you're concerned about playing an acceptable solo then do two things.
Follow the steps highlighted in this post and simply be yourself in performance.
That's all that I will write on this topic for now.
Live workshop to come soon.
Talk with you soon,
Chris
